By Stephen Nakrosis

New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo Thursday said the state has filed charges against Johnson & Johnson and several of its subsidiaries, alleging the company fraudulently mischaracterized the safety and effectiveness of opioid drugs in an effort to expand the market.

The actions are a part of an effort to recover $2 billion in insurance premium overcharges for New York residents, the state's Department of Financial Services said in a release.

The department said it has initiated administrative proceedings against J&J and its subsidiaries Janssen Pharmaceutica, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

The claim alleges that J&J has "had a long-standing and multi-faceted leading role in originating, supplying, facilitating, and actively creating a dangerous market for opioids for chronic pain treatment."

The department alleges J&J violated parts of the state's insurance law, and that each fraudulent prescription constitutes a separate violation.

J&J said in a statement that its marketing and promotion of prescription opioid pain medications was "appropriate and responsible."

"Janssen provided these medicines for doctors treating patients suffering from pain and worked with regulators to provide appropriate information about their risks and benefits--everything you'd expect a responsible company to do," the company said.

A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25. 



   Write to Stephen Nakrosis at stephen.nakrosis@wsj.com